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Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., has introduced a new bill that seeks to prohibit the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from utilizing taxpayer dollars to purchase firearms for its agents.
The introduction of the “Why Does the IRS Need Guns Act” comes in the wake of an unexpected raid on a local Montana gun store.
Congressman Rosendale, in an exclusive statement to Fox News Digital, expressed his concern over the intimidation faced by hardworking Montanans by Biden’s alphabet agencies.
He emphasizes the need to put an end to the weaponization of the government, and thus takes pride in presenting this legislation to prevent taxpayers’ funds from being used against the American people.
The incident that ignited this call for action saw 20 armed agents from the IRS and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) entering Highwood Creek Outfitters in Great Falls, Montana, in June.
Allegedly, they obtained customers’ personal information who had purchased guns from the store.
Addressing the recent incident and to discourage future occurrences, Representative Rosendale’s legislation aims to disallow the IRS from procuring, receiving, or storing firearms and ammunition.
Additionally, the bill suggests transferring the IRS’ arsenal within 120 days to the General Services Administration (GSA) for auction to licensed dealers and the general public, while moving the Criminal Investigations Division to the Department of Justice.
Several other representatives have cosponsored the bill, including Clay Higgins, R-La., Randy Weber, R-Texas, Harriet Hageman, R-Wyo., Eli Crane, R-Ariz., Mary Miller, R-Ill., Bob Good, R-Va., Brian Babin, R-Texas, Jeff Duncan, R-S.C., and Nancy Mace, R-S.C.
A recent report by OpenTheBooks revealed that the IRS has reportedly spent $35.2 million of taxpayer funds on firearms, ammunition, and military-style equipment since 2006.
This includes an expenditure of $10 million on weaponry and gear since 2020. Tom Van Hoose, the owner of the affected Highwood Creek Outfitters, expressed his shock when the group of IRS agents entered his store unannounced.
He further shared his fear for the safety of passersby in the face of heavily armed agents in full battle gear.
The incident in Montana had echoes of a similar situation from March, in which about 16 ATF agents descended upon Adventure Outdoors shop in Georgia.
They sought an audit and searched store records.
Highlighting the significance of this issue, it is worth noting that the IRS’s armed Criminal Investigation Unit stands as the sixth-largest federal law enforcement agency, exclusively authorized to investigate tax crimes.
In a report from 2023, the IRS stated that the unit’s role is to ensure that criminals are held accountable, that citizens fulfill their tax obligations, and that resources are dedicated to impactful criminal investigations.
